Times Are Tough In Prince Rupert In Spite Of New Port

Thursday, July 10, 2008 03:45 AM

While the new container port was supposed to be, "the be all, end all" for the growth of Prince Rupert, you just would not get that comment if you talk to a local resident.

More and more we are hearing that the economy of Prince Rupert is following along in the same footsteps as the rest of the central and northern parts of the province, on a downward slide.

It is, quite frankly, hard to believe that the port would not have broken the tail spin the city has found itself in since the closing of its pulp mill. The short answer is that it hasn’t.

Retail, according to the locals, has been off by as much as 40%; in some cases shop owners are saying that their business hasn't been this bad in 35 years.

So on one hand you hear what is happening in the new container port and then hear from another part of the community that things quite frankly are not good. Homes are not selling and there is plenty of business property for sale.

Is there a future in that community? Of course there is, it is only a matter of time before more containers will be off loaded in that city and that in itself should increase employment and with it buoy up the spirits of the community.

Further to that, BC Finance Minister Colin Hanson says there has been talk of building a new truck terminal on the old pulp mill site and that would require a large labour pool.

In the meantime, time is required and for many, time is not on their side.

I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s opinion.

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Thursday, July 10, 2008 03:45 AM in Views by Ben Meisner

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: owl on July 10 2008 6:00 AM

People in the business know how many jobs a container port generates based on a rate per 1,000 or whatever TEUs per year. They also know how many short term jobs there would be for construction of such a facility.

So, what were/are those projections? I think one can forget about most of the spin off jobs since those are mostly in the local service sector which has been underutilized over the last decade. So, it will just begin to make those service more viable rather than creating many new service jobs.

As with everything, more jobs can only be had if the throughput increases and/or diversification takes place which would need to see a more complex and value added form of handling the container contents. The reality is, however, that such work is generated in centres along the railway lines as the units get closer to meaningful population bases with access to alternate transportation nodes.

How much PG, Edmonton or cities further to the east will benefit from that, versus USA cities, will be the question. Even for that, there should already be some projections.

Posted by: owl on July 10 2008 6:21 AM

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/09/12/bc-rupert.html

It looks like we have to wait till 2011 to see if projections bear out.

;-)

Posted by: Eagleone on July 10 2008 6:46 AM

We shouldn't be looking at it from the perspective that someone is going to come along with a handout to create jobs because they have a plan. Thats a plan for a let down IMO.

I think we should be looking at it from the perspective of what is the strategic asset that differentiates us and our capabilities... and how can we formulate a strategy to maximize this advantage in creating future awareness of the opportunities. I'm certain we have many strategic assets worthy of many jobs, but I'm just as certain we have a bunch of over paid elite politicians (as well as consultants) that when all is said and done will not be the ones bringing the people the jobs... it will be the strategic assets and the strategies that are formulated around that strategic asset by the community as well as individuals citizens and corporations each for their own merrits.

If the government wants to get involved then finance those strategic assets that we require so that we can do the rest and lets avoid all the pandering promises and consultants.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on July 10 2008 8:38 AM

I think both owl and Eagleone are correct.
And "throughput" is in fact the key to success.
It has also been the stumbling block all along.
I have family that work at the port and that is their biggest issue.
Unfortunately,it also decides when they work and when they don't.
Ben is also correct in that there is a lot of disappointment in the way things have gone and the time it is taking to see things improve.
Hopefully that will change very soon,providing some of the red tape and beauacratic pandering it eliminated.

Posted by: lostfaith on July 10 2008 9:30 AM

One thing to remember about container traffic, It doesn't take many people to handle them. There is no longer stuffing/destuffing cans on the BC coast like there was in the good old days. Now cans are picked up and delivered to the back doors of factories and stores where they take care of stuffing/destuffing themselves. Most will be shipped by CN.
There won't be much for the average person to make a living from.
I wouldn't expect much at all from this wonderful container terminal as far as employment is concerned.

Posted by: Eagleone on July 11 2008 4:33 AM

I look at the parking lot full of container hauling trailers down on River Road and figure there has got to be nearly 80 or more of them sitting idle ready to go... but not as of yet being used. Hypothetically, if those tires were rolling they would require people to do things.

CN you would think has done their homework? The stuff is there it just hasn't found its way yet. I've said all along it could take five years or more and not weeks or months like was the hype.

Maybe someone has their finger on a dike that could turn from a trickle, to a flood, to a gusher... maybe the Canfor pulp mills are playing hard ball because they like their current arrangement. Maybe current shippers figure its better to have some revenue, than no revenue and thus predator pricing to retain market share? What if West Fraser switches over to the PG inland container port... would the Cariboo wagon trail need updating?

I bet the corporations all have a strategy... I'm in no hurry though because I still figure it means job loses when long hauls turn into short hauls for the highway haulers. The best hope would be new markets diversify our sales base and thus a hope for increased market capabilities for all industries in the North.

I wonder how many trucking companies other than CN have bought those container hauling trailers? That IMO says a lot right now about a lack of a broad public strategy.

Posted by: lmorg on July 11 2008 10:58 AM

Jobs via the container port are nowhere enough to offset those lost in the forest industry. And the ability to handle the containers while lowering costs (wages primarily) are an employers dream.
Thus monies will be funnelled to the owners and remain out of the workers.
The "economy" may be ok but still at the expense of jobs.

Posted by: lmorg on July 11 2008 10:59 AM

money will remain out of worker's hands I mean.